1-General News Categories
Will County Takes Jurisdiction of Countyline Road in $1.84 Million Agreement with Kankakee County
Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board has approved a jurisdictional transfer that brings a 4.27-mile stretch of Countyline Road entirely under Will County’s control, paving the way for a major reconstruction project funded in part by a $1.84 million contribution from Kankakee County. Countyline Road Transfer Key…
Read MoreGreen Garden Township’s Wildflower Farm Granted Third Special Use Extension
Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: Bengston Land Management, LLC secured a third extension on its special use permit to host rural events at The Wildflower Farm in Green Garden Township as site development continues. The Wildflower Farm Key Points: The Board unanimously approved Resolution 26-107, granting a third 180-day extension.…
Read MoreWill County Board Approves Controversial Solar Farms Following Court Mandate
Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: Under the strict constraints of a court-issued writ of mandamus, the Will County Board grudgingly approved multiple special use permits for commercial solar facilities. The approvals included the 2,258-acre Plum Valley Solar project, while the Board simultaneously passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to restore…
Read MoreOldest preserve expansion pushes acreage past 24,000 milestone
The Forest Preserve’s first acquisition of the year not only expands the District’s oldest preserve, it also pushes total acreage past the 24,000 mark. On March 27, the Forest Preserve acquired almost 106 acres on the southwest side of Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen. The acquisition is north of Bruce Road and east of Cedar…
Read MoreOn the road to 100 years: How the Forest Preserve District expanded
As the Forest Preserve District approaches its centennial year in 2027 with a total of nearly 24,000 protected acres, it’s a good time to reflect on how the District grew into a countywide system of preserves, trails and visitor centers. That growth didn’t happen by accident. Early on, the District followed a philosophy of one…
Read MoreExecutive Committee Advances Sweeping Updates to Adult Entertainment and Wireless Facilities Ordinances
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | April 9, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee advanced two major ordinances completely rewriting the county’s regulations for Adult Entertainment Establishments and Wireless Telecommunication Facilities, establishing strict new operational boundaries, fees, and location restrictions. Will County Business Ordinance Updates Key Points: Ordinance #26-133 / 26-4249-01…
Read MoreExecutive Committee Approves Local Fire District Appointments, Faces Pushback Over Delayed Elwood Seat
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | April 9, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee approved a slate of appointments for several fire protection districts, including Manhattan and Monee, while engaging in a tense discussion regarding the delayed appointment for the Elwood Fire District, which currently risks losing its ability to form a…
Read MoreAd-Hoc Committee: County’s Lack of Home Rule Stifles Effort to Ban Kratom and Non-Nicotine Vapes
Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved updates to its tobacco and alternative nicotine regulations, raising retail license fees while acknowledging that the county lacks the legal authority to ban substances like Kratom or non-nicotine vapes without state legislation.…
Read MoreIndiana Man Faces Federal Indictment, Potential Death Penalty for Momence Bar Owner’s Murder
Article Summary: State prosecutors have officially transferred the first-degree murder case against Julius Burkes to the U.S. Department of Justice. The 47-year-old Indiana man now faces federal charges, including the possibility of the death penalty, for the February armed robbery and murder of 30-year-old Courtney M. Drysdale. Federal Prosecution Key Points: Julius Burkes, 47, of…
Read MoreAd-Hoc Committee: New State Laws Force Shift in How Police Handle Student Cannabis and Tobacco Violations
Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: As Will County updates its drug offense ordinances to align with changing state cannabis laws, officials highlighted a recent shift in enforcement that prohibits police from ticketing students for tobacco or cannabis possession inside schools, leaving the matter entirely to internal…
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